United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has launched a scathing critique of former President Joe Biden's approach to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, accusing the Biden administration of failing to act on its own reward for the strongman's capture.
Rubio's Rebuke: "A Reward We Won't Enforce?"
In a Sunday morning interview with NBC News, Rubio highlighted the stark contrast between the two administrations. The Biden administration had placed a $25 million bounty on Maduro but, according to Rubio, did nothing to actively pursue him. "So, we have a reward for his capture, but we're not going to enforce it?" Rubio questioned presenter Kristen Welker. "That's the difference between President Trump and everybody else... President Trump did something about it."
This criticism follows the dramatic capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday by an elite US Delta Force unit acting on President Trump's orders. The couple were seized in a night-time operation and subsequently transported to the United States, where Maduro faces charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
The Escalating Bounty and a Haunting Social Media Post
The US bounty on Maduro has a complex history. Initially set at $15 million in 2020 after his indictment by the US Justice Department, it was increased to $25 million in January of last year while Biden was in office. Under the Trump administration, the reward was significantly raised to $50 million in August, following the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation allegedly run by Maduro.
Rubio's remarks coincide with a resurfaced social media post from Biden that has drawn widespread mockery. In 2020, Biden responded to an Axios report stating Trump was open to meeting Maduro by writing on X: "Trump talks tough on Venezuela, but admires thugs and dictators like Nicolas Maduro." The post has been labelled as poorly aged, with users and politicians like San Diego's Amy Reichert noting, "This did not age well."
Aftermath of the Capture: Strikes, Threats, and Interim Rule
The operation extended beyond the arrest. US troops conducted a strike in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, resulting in approximately 40 casualties among civilians and military personnel. While no US deaths were reported, an undisclosed number of American troops sustained injuries.
In the power vacuum, Venezuela's Supreme Court confirmed hardline socialist Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader. While Trump suggested Rodriguez was prepared to cooperate with the US, stating the US would "run" Venezuela indefinitely, Rodriguez has fiercely condemned the capture. She called it "an atrocity that violates international law" and demanded Maduro's immediate release, warning other nations they could face similar actions.
Maduro and his wife, now in Manhattan awaiting trial, mark a significant victory for Trump's foreign policy, which has directly linked the Venezuelan regime to drug trafficking impacting the United States. The event has ignited a fierce political debate about the efficacy and ethics of proactive intervention versus diplomatic posturing.
